Predetermined counter



p 15, 1953. v v. c. KENNEDY, JR 2,652,198

PREDETERMINED COUNTER Filed 001.. 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEY.

Scpt. 15, 1953 v. c. KENNEDY, JR

PREDETERMINED COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1950 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Streeter-Amet Company,

ration of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpo- Application October 25, 1950, Serial No. 192,120

Claims. 1

This invention relates to predetermined counters and more particularly to a counter responsive to electrical impulses to effect an electrical control operation after a preset number of impulses.

There are numerous applications in which it is desirable to stop a mechanism or produce a signal or both after a predetermined number of operating cycles. In many instances it is desirable that the counting and controlling mechanism be located at a remote point which is either difiicult Or impossible with mechanical devices. The counters heretofore provided have, in general, been either complicated and expensive or have lacked the reliability and flexibility essential for proper operation.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a predetermined counter which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which provides maximum reliability and flexibility of operation.

According to one feature of the invention the counter is responsive to electrical impulses and operates electrically to control an output circuit. Thus the counter may be mounted at any convenient position which may be remote from the apparatus producing the impulses and which is to be controlled.

Another object is to provide a counter formed by any desired number of counter units connected together electrically and connected to common control and reset relays. According to a feature of the invention both the control and reset relays operate control switches in the out@- put circuit of the counterto eliminate any possibility of accidental machine operation durin resetting. In accordance with another feature the control relay is held energized through a holding circuit including switches operated by both the control and reset relays so that the control relay is released only when the'reset relay is energized.

Other objects and features of the invention relate to the formation of a counter unit which is simple to construct and positive and reliable in operation, which includes control, transfer and reset contacts operating to effect control operations, to transfer impulses from one order to the next higher, and to accomplish an accurate and rapid reset, and which is positively and accurately operated through an electrically driven escapement device.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connec tion. with the accompanying drawing. in which:

I8. As best seen in Figures 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete predetermined counter unit embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a single counter unit;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 5--5, 6-6 and 1-1 respectively of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a circuit diagram.

A complete counter according to the invention may be built up of any desired number of counter units corresponding to number of orders desired, which are connected through a single supporting frame and electrically connected to common control and reset relays. As shown in Figure 1 a frame or housing l0 may be provided which may carry in its base reset and control relays and their associated switches. The frame or housing is adapted to receive a plurality of separate counter units, three of which are shown at H, corresponding to units, 10s and l00s. It will be appreciated that additional counter units could be provided if desired for higher numbers.

Each counter unit includes an mulcating disc [2, the upper portion of which i visible through an opening in a cover plate I: as shown in Figure 1, so that only the numbers at the top of the disc face are visible. The cases can be turned through knobs i4 pro ecting through the cover plates 13 to set the counter 101 any desired number.

Each of the counter units comprises a housing 15 open at its top and at one side and which is adapted to be mounted in the mam housing ll]. Preferably each of the counter units is formed with a multiple pronged plug to plug into a corresponding socket in the main housing In to efiect the several electrical connections necessary for operating. The plugging in of the counter units comprises the only connection necessary between the individual units and the remalnder of the mechanism except for whatever mechanical supporting connections may be desired to hold the parts assembled.

The disc l2 and knob IQ of each counter unit are secured to a shaft [6 which extends through the frame l5 and is journaled therein at its ends. The shaft [6 rotatably supports a metal sleeve I! which is partially covered by an insulating sleeve to 7, the insulating sleeve is provided with a pair of conducting plugs I9 and 2| axially and circumferentially spaced therein and making contact with the conducting sleeve I]. At one end the conducting sleeve ll has a cylindrical surface flush with the surface of the sleeve l8 which is interrupted at one point by an insulating plug 22.

The contact or conducting plug I9 is adapted to be engaged at desired times by a spring contact 23 lying in register with the contact I9 and angularly adjustable about the insulating sleeve. As shown the contact 23 is carried by an insulating block 24 secured on the shaft Hi to turn therewith. Preferably an adjusting screw 25 is provided by which the tension of the spring contact can be adjusted. The spring contact engages a conducting ring 26 carried by and insulated from shaft l8 and which may be engaged by a wiper 21 carried by the housing l in insulated relation thereto. It will be seen that when the shaft 19 is turned to set the disc l2 to the desired number, the contact 23 will be moved so that it will engage the contact l9 only when the sleeve I1 is in a position corresponding to the set number. Preferably a spring detent 2B is provided to hold the disc and shaft N5 in adjusted position.

The contact 2| is adapted to be engaged by a contact rod 29 slidably supported in an insulated block 3| carried by the top of the housing. The contact rod 29 is yieldingly pressed against the surface of the sleeve l8 by a spring 32 to insure engagement of the contacts 2| and 29 at the desired times. The spring 32 may also serve as an electrical connection to the contact rod 29.

A similar contact rod 33 is slidable in the block 3| and is pressed against the cylindrical exposed portion of the sleeve H by a spring 34. The contact rod 33 is in register with the insulating plug 22 so that when the insulating plug engages the contact rod 33 the circuit therethrough will be interrupted.

The sleeves I1 and i8 are adapted to be turned in a step-by-step manner through an escapement mechanism which will insure turning of the sleeves to the desired extent upon each operation and will prevent any accidental turning. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, this mechanism comprises a star wheel 35 secured on the sleeve l1 and which in the form illustrated has ten teeth. The star wheel is adapted to be engaged by an escapement lever 36 pivoted on an axis 31 in the housing 15 and which has two pawl sections 38 and 39 to engage the star wheel at spaced points. It will be noted that the angular spacing between the pawl portions 38 and 39 is different than the spacing between the teeth on the star wheel so that each time one of the pawls engages the star wheel it will turn it through approximately one-half of a tooth space.

The escapeme'nt lever is urged clockwise about its pivot by a spring 4| connected to the lever and adjustably anchored to a bracket 42 on the housing I5 by a threaded rod 43 and stop nuts 44. The tension of the spring 4| is adjusted so that it will urge the pawl 38 against the star wheel with sufficient force to turn the star wheel and sleeves. To rock the lever against the spring 39 a solenoid 45 is mounted in the lower part of the housing l5 and has a movable core 46 connected to the lever. When the solenoid 45 is energized it will rock the lever counterclockwise to move the pawl 39 into engagement with the star wheel. This will turn the star wheel and sleeves through approximately half of a tooth space. When the solenoid is de-energized the spring will rock the lever clockwise to move the pawl 38 into engagement with the star wheel thereby to advance it an additional half tooth space. Thus on each impulse received by the solenoid the star wheel and sleeves will be turned through one tooth space in a positive manner and the star wheel and sleeves will at all times be held against accidental turning.

Figure 8 illustrates the connections between two consecutive counter units such as the units and 10s counters and the remaining parts of the mechanism. As shown in Figure 8 elements of the units counter are indicated at the upper part of the figure with parts thereof indicated by the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 7. Corresponding parts of the l0s counter unit indicated at the bottom of the figure are indicated by the same reference numerals primed.

The solenoid 45 of the units counter is energized by impulses received from an external mechanism whose operations or cycles it is desired to count. As indicated this solenoid is connected to a source of current illustrated as a battery 41 through a switch 48 which may be closed by operation of an external mechanism. The switch 48 is in series with a normally closed switch 49' of a control relay 5| which includes a second normally closed switch 52 and a normal- 1y open switch 53. When the control relay 5| is energized switches 49 and 52 will be opened and switch 53 will be closed. At this time the solenoid 45 cannot respond to external impulses due to opening of the switch 49 until the mechanism is reset.

The contacts l9 and control a circuit from the source 41 through a relay 54 which closes a switch 55 when it is energized. The switch 55 is in series with switches 56 and 51 to control a circuit through the control relay 5| so that the control relay will be energized only when all three of these switches are closed. The switch 56 is controlled by a relay 58 connected to the contact 23 of the 10s unit and the switch 51 is similarly controlled by a relay 59 connected to the corresponding contact of the s unit. As the several counter units are advanced step by step when they reach a position corresponding to the number pre-set on their dials, circuits through all of the relays 54, 58 and 59 will be closed simultaneously to energize the control relay 5|.

The 10s unit receives its impulses from the units counter through the contacts 2| and 29. As shown the solenoid 45' of the 10's unit is connected at one side to the battery 41 and at its other side to the contact 29. Each time the contact 29 engages the contact 2| an impulse will be transmitted to the solenoid 45' to advance the 1'0s unit one step. Preferably the contacts 2| are positioned so that they will engage contacts 29 between the ninth and tenth positions of the counter units to produce only a momentary impulse which is transmitted to the next higher order unit to advance it. In a similar manner impulses are transmitted from the contacts 2| and 2:9 of the 10s unit to the solenoid of the 100s unit, etc.

The contact 33 engaging the conducting sleeve portion l1 constitutes a reset contact to insure that the units will be turned back to the proper zero position for resetting. For this purpose the insulating plug 22 is positioned to engage the contact 33 when the sleeve of the unit is in its zero position so that a circuit will be completed from the contact 33 through the. sleeve IT to ground at all times except when the sleeve is at itszero position. To produce resetting impulses each of the counter units is provided with a vibrating typerelay 6|. This relay controls a normally closed switch- 62 to open it when the relay is energized and a normally open switch 63 to close it when the relay is energized; The switch 63 when closed completes a circuit through the solenoid 45 to provide an operating impulse therefor.

Resetting iscontrolled by a reset relay 64 controllingnormally closed contacts 65 and 66 and normally open contacts 61, 38 and 69. Three normally open switches are provided in the reset relay as shown'for a counter having three counter units althougnfor counters having additional counter units additional normally open switches may be provided. The reset relay 64 is controlled by a manually operated'reset button H which may be operated to complete a circuit directly through the reset relay so that it will be energized as long'as the button II is held closed. The normally closed switches 52 and 65 are connected in series as shown to an output or control circuit 12 which may control operation of a motor or other mechanism driving the apparatus which operates the initial counter switch 48. Thus when either of these switches is opened the control'circuit is de-energized and operation of the mechanism is stopped or'if desired a signal may be produced. It will be apparent that the control circuit could'be a normally open circuit in which case the switches'52 and 65 would be normally open switches connected in parallel for the same'type of operation. With both of these switches "employed the control operation is effected as long as either the control relay or the reset relay 64 energized so that operation of the mechanism is prevented or the signal continues as long as the counter is not properly set for operation.

The switches 53 and G6 constitute a holding circuit for the control relay 5| so that when it is energized to close the switch 53 it will be held energized despite accidental opening of any of the switches 55, 56 or 51 until the reset relay is energized. This further insures against any operation of the mechanism or shutting off of the signal under undesired conditions. When the reset relay is energized to close the switch 6'! a circuit will be completed through the vibrator relay 6| from the battery through the relay and through switches 62 and 61 and contacts 33 and l! to ground. As soon as the relay 8| is energized it will open the switch 62 and close switch 63 to transmit an impulse to the solenoid 45. Opening of the switch 62 de-energizes the relay so that the switches return to'their initial position to again energize the relay. This produces a vibrating operation opening and closing the switch 63 to provide a source of impulses for the solenoid 45. On each impulse the solenoid 45 will advance the sleeves l1 and I8 until the insulating plug 22 engages the contact 33 to interrupt the circuit through the relay 6|. At this time the sleeves are set back to their zero position and the counter unit is ready for a subsequent operation.

Simultaneously with resetting of the units counter the s and 100s counter units are reset in the same manner. As shown the vibrator relay 6| for the 10s counter unit is energized through its vibrating switch 62', the switch 68 of the reset relay and the contacts 33' and ll of the 10s counter unit. In like manner the 100s counter unit will be reset to zero through a circuit including the switch 69. Thus all of the units are rapidly reset when the reset button 1| is closed ready for a subsequent operation.

smite" In; use the counter units can be set to any desired number of operations by turning their knobs l4 until the desired number appears through the windows in the panels |3. As shown in Figure 1 the counter is set for 321 operations and when this number of impulses has been received circuits through the contacts I9 and 23 of all of the units will be simultaneouslycompleted.

' The switches 55,56 and 51.,will therefore be closed'to energize the control relay 5| which will either stop the operation or give a signal and which will be held energized until the reset relay is operated.-- Upon resetting the counter by depressing the reset button II and holding it depressed for the brief period of time required for the several units to move back to zero, the counter is conditioned fora second operation. Thus the apparatus of the present invention provides extreme flexibility of-control with a very simple mechanism.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as 'adefinition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

l. A predetermined'counter comprising a plurality of counter units for a series of orders, each counter unit including a movable member carrying a control contact and a transfer contact, a manually adjustable contact engageable with the control contact, electromagnetic means to move the member step by step in response to electrical impulses, a contact in each unit to engage the transfer contact when the movable member is in a predetermined position and connected to the electromagnetic means for the unit corresponding to the next higher order to supply an impulse thereto, a control relay, a circuit for the control relay controlled by simultaneous engagement of the control contacts of all of the units, a control switch operated by the control relay, a reset relay, a manually operated switch to control the reset relay, a control switch operated by the reset relay and connected in circuit with the first named control switch, a normally open holding switch closed by the control relay when it is energized to complete a holding circuit for the control relay, and a normally closed switch in the holding circuit opened by the reset relay when it is energized.

2. A predetermined counter comprising a plurality of counter units for a series of orders, each counter unit including a movable member carrying a control contact and a transfer contact, a manually adjustable contact engageable with the control contact, electromagnetic means to move the member step by step in response to electrical impulses, a contact in each unit to engage the transfer contact when the movable member is in a predetermined position and connected to the electromagnetic means for the unit corresponding to the next higher order to supplyan impulse thereto, a control circuit including a pair of switches one of which is operated by the control relay and the other of which is operated by the reset relay, a vibrator in each counter unit adapted when energized to supply electrical impulses to the electromagnetic means thereof a normally open holding switch closed by the control relay to complete a holding circuit through the control relay, a normally closed switch in the holding circuit opened by the reset relay when it is energized, and a plurality of reset switches closed by the reset relay when it is energized and connected to the vibrators respectively to energize them.

3. In a, predetermined counter, a counter unit comprising a Irame,=a cylindricalmemberformcd of insulating material rotatablyzmounted on the frame, a pair of spacedcontacts carried by the member, a contact mounted for angular :adjustment about the member and axially aligned with one of the pair of contacts .to engage itin one position or rotation of the member,a second contact fixedly mounted adiacentto themember and axially aligned with the other ofthe pair ofcontacts, a ring of conductingzmaterial on themenmber interrupted at one .point by an insulating plug, and .a third contact fixedlymounted .adjacent to the member and engaging saidvring.

4. In a predetermined countena'counter unit comprising a frame, a .shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, ausleeve of insulating material rotatably mounted on the shaft, a pair of spaced contacts carried "by the sleeveacontact carried by the shaft inregister with one of said pair of contacts, meansadjustablyto turn theshaft to adjust the position ofthe lastnamed contact. a second contact fixedly carried by the frame in register with the otherzof thepair of contacts, a conducting ring on the sleeve, an'insulating plug interrupting the ring at one point in its circumference, a third contact fixed on the frame in register with the ring and plug, and means to turn the sleeve step by step on the shaft.

5. Ina predeterminedcountena counter unit comprising a frame, a shaft-rotatably mounted in the frame, a sleeve of insulating material rotatablyprnounted on the shaft, a pair of spaced con tacts carried by the'sleeve, a contact carried by theshaft in register with one of said pairof contacts, means adjustably to turn the shaft to adjust the position of the last named contact, a seoondmontact fixedly carried by-thepframe in register with the other of the pair of contacts, a conducting ringon the sleeve, an insulating plug interrupting the ring at one point in its circumferencaa third contact fixed on the frame in register with the ring and plug, a star wheel secured tothe sleeve, an escapement lever having a pair oi pawls' engaging the star wheel at spaced points, aspring urging the lever. in one direction, and a solenoid to move thelever in the other direction.

'VERNE CLKENNEDY. JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,273 Wardell Mar. 21, 1911 1,001,409 Jennings p Aug. 22, 1911 1,170,157 Huebner Feb. 1, 1916 2,049,634 Troutman Aug. 4, 1936 2,087,039 ,McMarter July 13, 1937 2,222,007 Valley Nov. 19, 1940 2,295,968 ,Poole Sept. 15, 1942 2,304,982 Wilekens Dec. 15, 1942 2,340,634 Wiley Feb. 1, 1944 2,346,869 Poole Apr. 18, 1948 2,487,265 Nelson Nov. 8,1949 

